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Mr. Brainwash booth blockbuster attraction at Art Miami

Contessa Gallery will be participating in the 28th annual Art Miami Fair, December 5- December 10. Contessa Gallery will hosts two booths, one entirely dedicated to Mr. Brainwash’s electrifying works. The brilliant artist will design the booth, and it is sure to be a blockbuster attraction at Art Miami. Mr. Brainwash began his artistic career over 17 years ago documenting the underground world of street artists. His artistic evolution is chronicled in the Academy Award nominated documentary, Exit Through the Gift Shop, directed by Banksy. Known for his stylistic combination of pop and street art, Brainwash creates his works by fiercely fusing together historical pop imagery with contemporary cultural iconography.

Contessa Gallery sets up roots on Palm Beach’s Worth Avenue

Steve Hartman, current President of FADA (Fine Art Dealers Association) and owner of internationally renowned Contessa Gallery, experienced first-hand the depth of the local Palm Beach area arts and cultural scene when he experimented with a West Palm Beach satellite gallery last year. This year a unique opportunity fell into his lap: A high-prized locale on Worth Avenue belonging to well-known art collector and Andy Warhol muse, Jane Holzer (AKA Baby Jane) unexpectedly became available. Contessa Gallery is up and running at 247 Worth Avenue (former Calypso space).

“The response we’ve seen to our presence in the South Florida art scene is off the charts. We’ve experienced a phenomenal welcome from Collectors. We think our highly curated collection of impressive artists will continue to attract important patrons.” explains Steve Hartman.

If there is one thing Steven Hartman knows it’s his art! The owner of Contessa Gallery immediately recognized something special about Cayla Birk.’s works. Exclusively showcased at Contessa Gallery, the young artist pays homage to historical events and characters in a contemporary style that is uniquely her own. “I don’t normally champion emerging artists. That’s not what our focus is, however, in this case it’s clear to me where her career is going to go. She fits in with our roster of internationally recognized artists,” said Hartman.

Detail of PALM BEACH

Based in West Palm Beach, Cayla’s influences come from a wide array of writers, musicians, and epistemologists. The mostprominent influences include Jack Kerouac, Ella Fitzgerald and Chuck Palahniuk. Each project consists of multiple works, often in a range of different media, grouped around specific themes and meanings. Cayla’s works merge traditional acrylic paints with other unique materials; she transcends the confines of mixed media art to create a style all her own. A signature approach of intricate designs pervade all of Birk.’s body of work as her instantly recognizable gestures and marks boast austere verbiage and shroud depictions.

“I allude to popular iconography, musical lyricism, and current verbal slang that pervade societal culture. Having engaged subjects as diverse as enlightened secret orders, hip-hop music and contemporary design, my work reproduces familiar visual signs, arranging them into new conceptually layered pieces,” says Cayla Birk.

Cayla’s work joins a specially curated collection of works by leading contemporary artists, including a very extensive selection by pop and street art sensation, Mr. Brainwash. Contessa Gallery is excited to showcase the artist’s continual revolutionary experimentation with new techniques, media, materials and subject matter. The special exhibition includes original Mr. Brainwash works on Wood, Metal, Brick, Cement, Canvas, Paper, Sculpture and Neon Light Mixed Media. The gallery also features artwork by David Drebin, Hijack and Gilles Cenazandotti.

A.D.I.D.A.S (Detail)

Initially open by appointment only, the new Contessa Satellite Gallery is located at the corner of Clematis Street and Rosemary Avenue. To make an appointment or for more detailed information about this exciting exhibition, please visit: www.contessagallery.com or contact Steve Hartman at 216-956-2825 or via email: art@contessagallery.com.

About Contessa Gallery

Founded in 1999, Contessa Gallery is a Fine Art Dealers Association member (FADA) that offers artworks of exceedingly high quality as well as art acquisition counsel to collectors, museums and institutions. Areas of expertise include pre-20th century, Modern and Contemporary sculpture, paintings, photography and works on paper. While many galleries focus primarily on artist representation and promotion, Contessa Gallery is collector focused. The gallery’s mission is to assist clients in developing collections that have deep personal meaning. Steve Hartman, owner of Contessa Gallery encourages his clients to view their collections as a legacy that can be passed down through generations or to art institutions.

Pop-Up Brings Renown Contemporary Artists to Downtown

Internationally renowned Contessa Galleryis thrilled to announce the opening of its first Seasonal Satellite location in South Florida. Located at 539 Clematis Street, at the corner of Rosemary in the heart of downtown West Palm, the two-story, 8,000 sq ft gallery space was selected to better serve the gallery’s extensive clientele in Palm Beach County.

“This gallery, and the high-caliber artists showcased, is a win for Downtown West Palm Beach and further validation of the growing appeal and attraction of the area as a destination for the arts,” said Raphael Clemente, Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority.

Currently on display is a specially curated collection of works by leading contemporary artists, including a very extensive selection by pop & street art sensation, Mr. Brainwash. Contessa Gallery is excited to showcase the artist’s continual revolutionary experimentation with new techniques, media, materials and subject matter. The special exhibition includes original Mr. Brainwash works on Wood, Metal, Brick, Cement, Canvas, Paper, Sculpture and Neon Light Mixed Media. The gallery also features artwork by David Drebin, Hijack, Gilles Cenazandotti,andlocal emerging artist Cayla Birk. Initially open by appointment only, the gallery also looks forward to working with the community, through hosting events for charities and other organizations

Founded in 1999, Contessa Gallery is a Fine Art Dealers Association Member (FADA) that offers artworks of exceedingly high quality as well as art acquisition counsel to collectors, museums and institutions. Areas of expertise include pre-20th century, Modern and Contemporary sculpture, paintings, photography and works on paper.

“Many galleries focus primarily on artist representation and promotion, we are collector-focused,” says Steve Hartman, founder and owner of Contessa Gallery. “Our mission is to assist clients in developing collections that have deep personal meaning, encouraging them to view their collections as a legacy that can be passed down through generations or to art institutions.”

To make an appointment or for more detailed information about the gallery, its artists, exhibition history, art fair schedule and philanthropic support, please visit our website: